Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Convergence Partners offers clients a comprehensive suite of research and evaluation services designed to empower development projects, policy actors and businesses with actionable insights and strategic guidance to adapt approaches based on learning, measure results and inform future activities. Our expertise spans various domains, ensuring tailored solutions for diverse needs.
Our research and performance evaluation services encompass a diverse array of methodologies and tools tailored to meet the specific requirements of each project. We conduct baselines, mid-term, endline and impact evaluations, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods as appropriate to project needs. Examples include:
• Baseline evaluation: Establishing benchmarks for project indicators before interventions begin.
• Mid-term evaluation: Assessing progress and providing recommendations for adjustments to enhance outcomes.
• Endline and impact evaluations: Measuring the long-term project results and sustainability of outomes.
•Case studies and success stories: Documenting best practices and lessons learned to share knowledge and replicate success in other contexts.
We employ participatory methods in the design, execution and dissemination of findings, ensuring that stakeholders are actively involved throughout the process. This not only enhances the relevance and accuracy of the findings but also fosters ownership and commitment to implementing the recommendations.
Convergence supports its clients to create robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks that integrate real-time monitoring systems and adaptive management practices. Our approach to MEL systems development allows for continuous feedback and iterative improvements, ensuring that projects remain aligned with their goals and responsive to changing circumstances. Key methodologies and tools we use include:
• Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): Engaging communities in the assessment and planning process to ensure local relevance and buy-in.
• Most Significant Change (MSC) Technique: Identifying and analyzing significant changes through stakeholder stories to understand impact.
• Outcome Harvesting: Collecting evidence of outcomes and working backward to determine how interventions contributed to those changes. • Routine data management systems: We design MEL systems that leverage technology to capture, store, analyze, visualize and report data efficiently.
We design studies that measure outcomes and impact of projects using experimental and quasi-experimental designs.
Our team is adept in methodologies such as Randomized Control Trials (RCTs), Propensity Score Matching, Mixed Models, Difference-in-Differences and many other methods for determining inference.
We conduct in-depth market research to help businesses understand industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes. Our market research expertise also includes pricing, product testing, branding, advertising development, and media audience studies. Our methodologies include surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, and secondary data analytics, providing a holistic view of market dynamics.
